SC stalls Delhi HC-ordered panel's takeover of IOA

International Olympic Committee (IOC) — similar to FIFA’s step against the All India Football Federation (AIFF). A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Hima Kohli and CT Ravikumar ordered status quo in the IOA’s affairs after being informed that the CoA led by former SC Judge A R Dave is yet to take charge. The bench took up the appeal against the HC’s August 16 order after solicitor general Tushar Mehta sought urgent hearing on the appeal filed by the IOA and said, “As a nation we are worried with the development.

The HC has appointed the CoA. The international bodies consider any management other than the elected body as a third party or outsider and suspend the national sports body which does not have an elected body in charge of administration.” “It is altogether a different issue whether the appointment of CoA was valid or not. But with the court-appointed administrators taking over the reins of IOA, there is a 99% chance of IOA getting suspended by the IOC which would prevent Indian athletes from participating in any international sporting event, including Olympics.

This is essentially a matter relating to national prestige in the international stage,” Mehta said. The bench had very little time to go through the case papers, having taken the case up within an hour of allowing the request for urgent hearing. It recorded Mehta’s submissions and ordered status quo till Monday.